WHEAT DUTIES OPPOSED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 753, 28 August 1929, Page 10

WHEAT DUTIES OPPOSED

SELECT COMMITTEE’S SITTING PIG INDUSTRY SUFFERS Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. The second public sitting of the t mmittee ft •' - Hindering the question of wheat duties was held today. -Mr. Ferguson, representing the South Auckland Dairy Association, said that 1 . 1 tariff on pig food it was impossible to raise the right class of pig for the export trade. They would prefer the duty to be taken on pig food rather than to receive a bonus of id on the export trade. There was a feeling that there was no benefit to the farmer from the bonus. Further evidence was given by the Secretary of Industries and Commerce, Mr. J. W. Collins, who said the object of the tariff and sliding scale was to make New Zealand entirely independent if possible. If the Department were asked to investigate and report on the economic price of bread in order to give a reasonable price and to provide for overhead, they would fix the price at Is a 41b loaf. To the chairman, Mr. Collins said that were it not for the duties, wheat would be much cheaper. Mr. Fawcett, of the Department oi Agriculture, speaking in regard to the poultry industry, said tlfat there was an over-production of eggs in the Dominion at present. The industry was on a downward sv fng and this would probably bring about a rise in price in the next few years. One of the big disadvantages under which the poultry-farmer was working was that there was no organisation through which he could buy his wheat advantageously. Mr. Fawcett said that he saw no prospect of an export market for New Zealand eggs. The committee adjourned till next Wednesday.